2014 PENFOLDS BIN SERIES

06 March 2014

In the winery's 170th year, Penfolds is proud to release the 2014 Bin Series. Featuring 12 expressions, the Bin Series displays the benefits of the multi-regional blending and stylised winemaking philosophy, which Penfolds has upheld since 1844.

Released annually, the 2014 collection celebrates the anniversary releases of two coveted Bins – the 50th consecutive release of Bin 128 Coonawarra Shiraz, which exemplifies the cool-climate Shiraz which the Coonawarra is renowned for; and the 20th anniversary of the Bin 138 Barossa Valley Shiraz Grenache Mataro, a wine known for developing savoury characters with age. It also sees the inaugural release of 2012 Bin 9 Cabernet Sauvignon, which displays ripe, bold flavours and highlights the art of multi-regional blending.

Spanning three vintages, this year's Bin Series includes other signature Bin wines including the 2011 Penfolds Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz and 2011 Penfolds Bin 407 Cabernet Sauvignon. Penfolds white wines play an integral role in this collection with the 2013 vintages of Bin 311 Tumbarumba Chardonnay and Bin 51 Eden Valley Riesling.

Chief Winemaker, Peter Gago says: "The continued evolution of our Bin Series wines are a credit to the craftsmanship of the winemaking and viticulture teams.

"The climatic conditions prevailing across the three vintages of this release, 2011/2012/2013 couldn't be any more different, and yet the Penfolds approach has delivered this offer of traditional Bins that are true to both style and expectation."

"Similarly, the Chardonnay harvested from Tumbarumba resulted in a wine with great depth of flavour, minerally in style and with exceptional ageing potential – a release to join other celebrated Bin 311 vintages including 2008 and 2010."

The Bin Series, as we know it today, were first created by former Chief Winemaker Max Schubert and named after the numbered 'bins' within the Penfolds cellar, where the wines were stored. With the ambition to create 'a dynasty of wines' which all had an unmistakeable resemblance to each other, the Bin Series offers superior quality, accessibility and choice.

The first wine created in the series was Bin 28 Kalimna Shiraz, (1959), a wine initially made whilst Grange was still being crafted in secrecy. Originally a single vineyard wine, Bin 28 now characterises Penfolds contemporary winemaking philosophy, with fruit sourced from premium vineyards across several regions, including the Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale.

"Penfolds Bin Series wines are crafted from fruit sourced off vines aged between eight and over 90 years old – such is the depth of our vineyards," says Barossa Vineyard Manager, George Taylor.

"From the terra rossa soils of Coonawarra to the sandy loams at Kalimna, the strength of Penfolds lies in our ability to source parcels of fruit from each region at its optimum ripeness and the wines from the 2014 Bin Series release were no exception."

The 2014 Bin Series includes the following 12 wines, which are available now at fine wine stores internationally, the Penfolds Cellar Doors and from penfolds.com (Australian vistors only). To view the tasting notes for each, visit the links below:

Penfolds is proud to unveil its 2014 Icon and Luxury Collection. Articulating an authentic voice of fine Australian wine, this exceptional array of wines celebrates Penfolds 170th anniversary of winemaking history in impeccable style.

Penfolds St Henri is a great Australian red with a unique stature, emblematic story and enduring quality. Steeped in South Australia's colonial heritage and inextricably linked to the development of Grange, St Henri offers an intriguing, alternative expression of Shiraz.